Laundry appliance



sept. 12, 1933. H, HmscH 1,926,946

LAUNDRY APPLIANCE Filed April 8. 1933 v dtboiwuj Patented Sept. 12, 1933 l PATENT oFFic LAUNDRY APPLIANCE f Henry Hirsch, Jersey City, J. Application April 8, 1933. Serial No. 665,178

9 Claims.`

This invention relates to the general art of laundry appliances and has more specific reference to sorting devices uniquely fashioned to receive check or key members of pre-determined formation'bearing articles of wearing apparel, or

the like.

Those skilled in the art to which this inven# tion appertains are aware that in laundry establishments it is customary to affix indicia-bearing checks or keys to the articles to be cleansedsaid checks or keys being normallyprovided with pins for attaching purposes. In most instances, said keys or checks are contoured to agree with an opening formed in a sorting rack and in View of this arrangement it is obvious that only those garments bearing checks or keys of a particular contour may be inserted in an opening in said rack. In this manneronly goods belonging to an said bracketbeing provided with operable means` Vto vary the inclination and declination with relation to the vertical `axis of said bracket. p

Another important aim of the invention is toV provide a novel bracket wherebythe holder portion of the device maybe afxed thereto 'during the assembling of the garments thereon, and which permits convenient and facile removal of said holder, together with its Ysupported gar--Y ments, as desired.

Another object is to .provide a novel head por tion for the holder, saidhead.' including an end or face portion having an opening therethrough, the outline of Vsaid opening being individual to the contour of a key element, bearing means to support wearing apparel, or the like.

A still further object of the invention reside in the provision of a slidable barrier, borne by said head portion, and normally arranged to be encountered by and moved out of the path of a key element passed through the `opening in said head portion, said barrier returning to its normal position after the key element has passed on the holder. f

Still another object is to provide spring means,

tensioned by the aforesaid movement of said bar-lV rier, whereby the. latter is positively returned to its normal position to prevent the displacement of key elements from the holder.

Still another object' of the invention is to provide means whereby said barrier may be manually operated andrestrained in a position out of the path of key elements to be removed from the holder.

A further object is to provide a novel key element having a head portion adapted to ride along therails of the holder, said element further having a shank portion, circular in cross-section, and having its surfacel susceptible of assuming` a plurality of shapes, such as annular grooves of varying contours, which register with the outline of an opening formed in the head portion of the device, the particular shape of a key element permitting its insertion into the proper opening without rotation about its vertical laxis or similar manipulations.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the inventionA is better set forth, and it' will ber understood that changes within out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the, accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 isajside elevation ofmy'invention, showing one of the keys elements attached there to, onel extremity of the holder portion being broken away to show its attachment to a wallsupportedbracket, the `latter' beingV shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device show-` ing the opening in the face portion thereof.

Fig. 3 is atop plan view of the holder removed fromthe wall-supported bracket.

- Fig. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 4 of Fig. 3 and showing the normalposition of the barrier prior` to the entry of a key element.

Fig.=5l is a view like unto Fig. 4, but showing the key element being passed along. the .railslof the holder and depicting its co-action with, the

barrier. v i i fFig.v 6 is a face view of the bracket.

Fig. 7 is a sectionalview of the bracket, showing in full lines the inclination of the holder `and further illustrating in broken lines the declination of the holder.

, Fig. 8 is an elevation of a Vkey element. 'Q

Fig. 9 is a transverse vsectional view taken on the line 9,-9 of Fig. 8.

i Referringnow more in detail to the drawing, wherein like characters of reference denote simi` larparts throughout the several views, let 5 indicate the bracket attachable to a wall 6 by means offastening means 7, said bracket being provided with a front enlargement 8 presenting a socket 9, (see Figs. 1 and`6), having a rear'walllO and a curved bottom 11, a projection IZdepending fromthe front portion of the top of said socket 9. It will be noted that said rear wall 10 is provided the scope of therclaims may be resorted to with-v with a threaded aperture 13 for the reception of a set-screw 14.

The holder 15 comprises a pair of spaced parallel rails 16 and is provided with a U-bend 17 at one end, (see Fig. 3), while the other extremity carries a head portion 18. In view of the aforesaid arrangement of parts, there is defined a continuous channel between said rails 16 which extends from the face of said head portion 18 to a cross-pin 19 adjacent said U-bend 17.

As the bracket 5 is adapted to support said holder 15, it is obvious that the latter will be inserted in the socket 9 by tilting said holder so that the U-bend 17 rides along the curved'bottom 11 and rises upwardly until the projection 12 slips within the inner portion of said U-bend 17, the rear wall of said U-bend contacting the head of the set-screw 14 as shown in Fig. 1. It will be obvious that the wedging actions between said U- bend and the projection 12, and between the setscrew and U-bend will maintain the holder in the position indicated. In that the screw 14 may be screwed into and out of the aperture 13, it is manifest that this manipulation may be resorted 25 to to change the angular position of said holder with respect to said bracket. That is, said holder may be given an inclination or a declination with relation to its horizontal axis.

The head portion 18, referred to hereinbefore, embodies side walls 2U and 21 and a face or end portion 22 provided with a recess 23, said side Walls presenting aligned, angularly disposed slots 24 and 25, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4,

to receive a movable barrier or bar 26, having 'headed portions 27 to maintain said barrier in the position indicated. Said side walls are also connected by a pin`28 encircled by a coiled spring 29 having one end 30 braced against the inner ,surface of said face portion 22, and having its other end portion 31 bearing against said barrier 26,- (see Figs. 1 and 2). It will be noted that said portion 31 of said spring 29 is somewhat elongated and is provided with abend 32 at its extremity. As shown in Fig. 3, plates 33 and 34 are attached to the outerv surfaces ofthe ends of said rails 16, fastening means 35 and 36 being employed for this purpose, said fastening means also serving to attach the lower portions of Vsaid sidewalls 20 and 21 to the rails 16 of the holder. The ends of said plates 33 and 34', projecting beyond the edges of each of the rails-16,` are inturned, as indicated at 37 and 38, (see Fig. 2),' and spaced apart as shown, to present a gap which combines with said recess 23 in said face portion 22 to define the aforementioned 'opening for the reception of a key element, the latter being insertable through said opening for subsequent placement in the channel formed between Said rails 16. It will be noted that said recess 23,.in

outline, corresponds to the contour ofthe head portion 39l of the key element 40 shown in Fig..8, Yand also that the edges of said inturned ends37 and 38, of plates 33 and 34,r are each distinctively fashioned to present projections in the nature of serrations 41, so that the gap or space therebetween coincides with the shape of the shank portion 42 of said key element 40. In view of this arrangement it is obvious that only key elements possessing a contour or shape registering with the contour of said opening can be admitted therethrough.

At this time it is briefly pointed out that said key element is also provided with a circumferential flange 43 at the base of said shank portion 42, and a projection 44 having an aperture 45 for the reception of a ring 46 attached to the heel portion of a pin 47, (see Fig. l). Said key element 40 is adapted to be passed between the rails 16 of the holder, as pointed out hereinbefore, and in this connection it will be observed the undersurface 39a of said head portion 39 rests on the top edges of the rails 16 and that the distance between said undersurface 39a and the top surface of said circumferential flange 43 is substantially equal to the width of each of said rails 16, thus preventing undue movement of the key elements when placed between said rails. It will be understood that said pin 47, in actual practice, is an oversized safety pin which is caught into the garment or wearing apparel after the goods are received in a laundry establishment and on which, said pin or pins remain until.

after the goods are assembled into customer groups. The guards of said pins 47 may be provided with a number, as shown, and also the face portion 22 of said head 18 may be supplied with a similar number. For purposes oi illustration, the numeral 11 is shown in Figs. 1

and 2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when a key element 46, supporting any kind of apparel, isV presented to the opening dencd by therecess 23 and the gap or space between the edges of said inturned ends 37 and 38, (see Fig. 2), only key elements having a contour coinciding with the outline of said opening can be admitted therein or therethrough.

Assuming now that the proper key element is being presented, said element will pass through the aforesaid opening, the flat undersurface 39a of said head 39, (see Fig. 8), slidably engaging the tops of said rails 16, and las said key element is moved along said rails, said head 39 now engages the barrier 26, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, is normally positioned in the path of said entering key element. In View of the arrangement of angular slots 24 and 25, said barrier 26 is moved upwardly and rearwardly and out of the path of the entering key element, (see Fig, 5),` and thus the latter and its burden will then beireev to slide along said rails 16 to the cross pin 19, as suggested in Fig. 1. During the aforesaid movement of said barrier 26, the end portion 31 of Vsaid spring 29 is also swung upwardly thus tensioning said spring and after the key'element has passed beyond said barrier, theitension .of said spring returnsy said barrier to the normal position of the same, as indicated in Fig.. 4; and in this position vsaid barrier serves as a stop to prevent the removal of the key elements from Vthe holder l5, until said barrier is manually operated to permit the passage of a key elementor: elements therebeneath. In that it is desirable to provide means for maintaining said barrier 26`in an elevated position when key elements are being removed from the holder 15, I propose to' provide notches 48 and 49 at the upper ends of 'said slots 24 and 25, respectively, (see Figs. land 4), and in View of this arrangement, said barrier may be manually moved within said slots 24 and 25 and drcppedinto notches 48 and 49 so that said barrier will remain in an elevated position above the key elements being remove from the holder 15.

When the barrier 26 is shifted into said notches 48 and 49, the end portion 31 of said spring 29 swings upwardly therewith, thus tensioning said spring, Whilstthe bent portion 32` engages said barrier to assist in its maintenance within said notches. Obviously, said barrier mayY be elevated slightly out of saidnotches whereupon-the former, under tension of spring 29, rides down the slots 24:` and 25-to the position indicatedin l'igs. 2 and v4. Thus the spring `29.causes-said barrier to return to its normal'position whena key'element has been passed along-the'rails 16, and at the same time said'spring holds the barrier in elevated 'position insaid notches '48 and 49. As pointed out hereinbefore, said holder 15 may be maintained in an inclined or 'a declined position by the simple expedient 'of turning the set-screw14 in'toor out ofthe threaded :aperture 13. As shown in Fig. '7, (full lines) said set-screw has been retracted and thefholder is given apronounced inclination-extending from the U-bend 17 to the head portion 18." Likewise,v said holder 15 maybe shifted angularly-'to the declined position indicated by broken linesrin Fig. 7, this positioning being effected setting the set-screw up into'its threaded aperture; This is a feature of some importance in -that a holder inclined as indicated in full lines in Fig. 7 assures that the keyV elements and attached garments will also have a tendency to ride down the rails 16 toward the cross-pin. 19, .and thatA rthis condition will obtain during the passage of the key elements onto the rails. When key elements and garments are lto be removed from the holder before the latter is removed from its bracket, it is sometimes desirableto vhave said'holder assume the declined position shown in broken linesin Fig. 7, in that this declination causes the key elements to ride down the rails and to be conveniently positioned for removal through the head.

t will be understood thatl yafter the holder 15 has been loaded with its key elements and garments, thejsame may be disengaged from the bracket 5 by elevating the vhead portion 18, while the U-bend 17 slides along the bottom 11 of said socket 9 and is released from engagement with the projection 12. garments may then be transferred to another department of the laundry, where single key elements and garments may be removed in the manner set forth hereinbefore.r

As pointed out hereinbefore, I have provided a specially designed key element, and since its shank portion is circular in crosssection it may be presented tothe opening of the head portion with the assurance that it will enter said opening, provided, of course, the particular contour of said key element corresponds to the contour of said opening. Thus the key elementv is a universal Vkey since it is not subjected to pre-determined positioning for entry into the opening. The annular grooves formed in the shank portion of the key element may be varied in size, location and general contour. Hence, thousands of combinations may be made up and kept in stock by laundry men and since a particular key element must in contour correspond with the outline of its proper opening in a holder no confusion or mistake can occur. It will be noted in the drawing that the recess 23 and particularly the gap between the inturned ends 3'7'and 38 are positioned at the extreme front of the holder and hence the opening is first encountered by a key element. My predecessors in this art have favored keys, checks or tags somewhat disk-like or flat and hence such articles, due to their particular shape, must be twisted or otherwise manipulated to pass through an opening. Quite frequently such manipulations permit the insertion of a wrong check or tag.

In View of the particular shape of my key ele- Said holder and its load ofl ment it will enter the proper opening regardless offits position or twisted position in relation to its vertical axis. On inspection of Figs. 2 and 4 it will be noted that the-edges of the inturned ends 37 and 38-are relatively thin and hence a flat disk, or the like, presented therebetween might be twisted or sprung to enter the opening and if said disk-like element happened to be the wrong check different customers apparel would likely be assembledfon the .sameholden My specially designed universal key element positively precludes such a contingency since it is circular in crosssectiori and may freely pass through an opening, provided, of course, the opening and key element conform. as to shape or contour.

. `When a holder and its load of garments are bodily removed from the bracket and delivered to another department of a laundry, it is obvious that the individual garments may be subjected to ironing or similar processes-without removing a garment and its key element from the holder.

This ideal situation is accomplished due to the fact that each key element is freely rotatable withink the rails 16 of the holder and the goods may be turned, re-turned and operated upon individuallyand collectively without necessitating be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as various changes in the minor details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a wal'l bracket and a holder comprised of spaced rails, said bracket having a socket to receive one end of said holder and further presenting a projection insertable between said rails adjacent said end of said holder and adjustable means arranged within the socket of said bracket to vary the angular position of said holder.

'2. A device of the character described comprising a wall bracket and a holder comprised of spaced rails having a U-bend at one extremity, said bracket having a socket to receive said U- bend and further presenting a projection in-V sertable within said U-bend and a set-screw arranged within the socket of said bracket, said set-,screw being adjustable to vary the inclination of ,said holder.

3. A device of the character described comprising a wall bracket and a holder comprised of spaced rails havinga U-bend at one extremity, said bracket having a socket to receive said U- bend and further presenting a projection insertable within-said U-bend and cooperating with the walls of said socket whereby said holder is supported by said bracket.

4. A holder having-a channel to receive laundry key elements, a head portion for said holder Vhaving aligned slots, a barrier shiftably artered by a key element to be entered into said channel and being moved thereby out of the path of said element and tension means resisting the movement of said barrier and returning said barrier to its normal position to prevent the escape of a key elementfrom said holder.V

5. A holder comprising parallel rails spaced apart to present a channel therebetween for receiving laundry key elements, ahead portion for said holder, the face portion thereof being provided with an opening, the outline of said opening conforming to the contour on a key element,

said head portion being provided with aligned angularly disposed slots, a barrier shiftably arranged in said slots to be encountered and elevated out of the path of a key element passed through said opening and tension means borne by said head for returning said barrier to its normal position after the passage of a key element to prevent the escape of the latter from the holder.

V6. A holder comprising parallel rails spaced apart to present a channel therebetween for receiving laundry key elements, a head portion for said holder, the face portion thereof Ybeing provided with an opening, the outline thereof conforming to the contour on a key element, said head portion having its opposite side walls' provided With aligned, angularly disposed slots having notches at their upper ends, a barrier mounted in said slots to be encountered and elevated out of the path of a key element passed through said opening and tension means borne by said head for returning said barrier to its normal po' sition after the passage of a key element to prevent the escape of the latter from the holder, said barrier being manually shiftable to t into the notches of said slots to retain said barrier in an4 elevated position to permit the removal of a key element. f Y

'7.' In a device of the character described, the combination of a'holder having parallel rails spaced apart to present a channel therebetween, laundry key elements having a shank portion circular in cross-section andV presenting annular grooves, and further embodyingl a head portion adapted to slide on said rails, and a-head member carried by said rails having an opening in the faceY portion thereof, the outline of said opening conforming to the contour'on the shank portion ofV aA key element.

8. Inv a device of the character described, the combinationof a holder having parallel rails spaced apart to present a channel therebetween,V laundry key elements having a shank portion circular in cross-section and presenting annular grooves, said key elements being freely rotatably borne by said holder and further embodying a head portion adapted to slide on said rails, and a head member carried by said rails having an opening in the face portion thereof, the outline of `said opening conforming to the contour on the shank portion of a key element. 9` A. holder having a channel for receiving laundry key elements, a head carried by one end of said holder, there being an opening in the face of said head, in combination'with a key element rotatably borne by said holder, said key element having ahead portion adapted to slide on said holder and including a circular shank portion embodying a contour coinciding with `the outline or" said opening, said key element being insertable through said opening to position the same within said channel.v

- HENRY HIRSCH. 

